Different thinking leads to different living

‘Be transformed by the renewal of your mind’, Romans 12:2

Just as all that our hearts love flows out in our behaviour and lifestyle, so the way we live is the natural outworking of the way we think. Change what the heart loves, and their behaviour will change; change what a person thinks and their behaviour will change.

For example; increasing disillusionment with a political leader may cause a person to switch their support and vote for someone else.

We all welcome the opportunity to be trained so we learn skills to enable us to live and work more effectively and skillfully. Academic education leads to greater life opportunities. As our minds and thinking develop and the way we live changes.

‘The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out’, Proverbs 20:5

This is why all who love Jesus will invest in learning how to engage in scripture because it is through listening to all our Father has ‘breathed out’ that we understand the context and the contours and the dynamic of the life of the Spirit in the kingdom.

If we do not know the map, we cannot know the way.

‘Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching you are truly my disciples and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free”’; John 8:31-32

So as disciples of Jesus, we shall make progress in overcoming temptation as we seek to engage deeply in the words of God.

How can we overcome temptation?

1. By understanding what temptation is, and what sin is, and understanding that temptation is not sin.
2. By ‘making no provision for the sinful nature’ – by taking steps to eliminate the possibility of sinning, (by not taking your swimmers in case you are tempted to swim in the lake).
3. By seeking the outpouring of the love of Christ into your heart by the Holy Spirit; Ephesians 3:16-19.
4. By engaging with scripture, we know and understand the glorious life of the kingdom so we can learn what it is and how to live the kingdom life.